Despatches from the War on Bugs

This blog aims to convey stories of real-world pharmacy practice to you dear reader. As a profession, we don't give ourselves enough credit for the work we do. So it's time to share some tales of how I and other pharmacists from all sectors of the profession are using the full range of pharmacy skills to benefit patients, the NHS and the universe.

My name's Kev, and I'm mostly a hospital pharmacist from the North of England (although I have done work in community, academia and PCT). Currently my main role is as a specialist pharmacist in antibiotics at the local District General Hospital.

Why antibiotics?, Well for a number of reasons they're the most divine, sensational, tremendous, nifty and all round most-particularly-excellent pharmaceuticals out there.

The principal reason: Antibiotics are curative

Antibiotics are one of the few groups of drugs out there that we use to cure a disease. Other drugs mask symptoms, prevent complications or slow disease progression – all worthwhile, but they don't get rid of the disease. While antibiotics can be used prophylactically, but the majority of times you see an antibiotic prescribed it's being used to remove a problem rather than hide it.

There are many other reasons, but they'll wait for another day.